ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with a delegation from the Afghan Taliban’s Qatar-based political office to discuss issues impeding the start of the intra-Afghan dialogue for ending the 19-year-old conflict in the country.
Mullah Baradar, the director of the political office and Taliban’s deputy emir responsible for political affairs, lead the delegation, which arrived today (Wednesday) on the invitation of the foreign ministry.
In a statement, the FO spokesperson said that views on the current status of the Afghan peace process and the way forward were exchanged during the meeting.
During the meeting, the foreign minister reiterated that Pakistan desires durable peace in Afghanistan. “Pakistan played its possible reconciliatory role in the agreement reached between the Afghan Taliban and the United States in Doha,” he added.
“The agreement on the rules for intra-Afghan talks is a welcome development. Pakistan has been stating since the beginning that the only way for peace in Afghanistan is meaningful and comprehensive dialogue,” he remarked.
FM Qureshi further said that peace in Afghanistan was imperative for peace and stability in the entire region. “Pakistan wants promotion of multifaceted ties with Afghanistan,” he added.
On the occasion, the Afghan Taliban delegation head Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar lauded Pakistan’s reconciliatory efforts for peace in Afghanistan.
